Fishing rod with reel fastener

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure concerns a fastening arrangement for securing a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The fastening arrangement includes a bulge to enhance controllability of the fishing rod, and a constriction receiving one of the angler&#39;s fingers to enable precision manipulation of the fishing rod.

This is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/363,578 filed Dec. 23, 1994, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,362,111.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns fastening means for attaching a fishingreel to a fishing rod. Specifically, the present invention is directedto fastening means for light-weight fishing rods in which minute,precise movements are required, such as while fishing for small fish.

b) Description of Related Art

While waiting for a fish to bite the bait, an angler may grasp thefishing rod by a conventional fishing rod grip located either betweenthe reel and the tip end of the fishing rod, or between the reel and thebutt end of the fishing rod. Alternatively, it is not uncommon for theangler to grasp the reel in the proximity of where the fishing reel isattached to the fishing rod.

Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI, i.e. “unexamined publishedapplication”) No. 3-102850 discloses a reel fastener including aprotuberance (2) formed on an upper surface. The protuberance prevents agap from being formed between the palm of the angler's hand and theupper surface when the fishing rod is grasped.

Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI) No. 2-67765 similarly disclosesa cylindrical cover for a fishing rod with a protuberance (8) extendingaway from the fishing reel.

The enlarged size of the reel fasteners in the prior art improve theangler's grasp of the fishing reel, whereby control of the fishing rodbecomes limited to broad movements of the angler's wrist, arm, shoulder,etc. Unfortunately, it makes precise manipulation of the fishing rod,such as by the angler's fingers more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theaforementioned problem and provide fastening means linking securingmeans on a fishing rod with mounting means on a fishing reel. Thefastening means also include a bulge extending radially outward awayfrom a longitudinal axis of the fishing rod, as well as a constrictionlocated between the bulge and a tip end of the fishing rod.

The bulge increases the stability while grasping the fastening meanswhereas the constriction is adapted to receive the angler's finger forprecisely controlling minute movements of the fishing rod. Essentially,the fishing rod may be precisely manipulated by simple movements of theangler's finger rather than attempting to attenuate the broad movementsof the angler's wrist, arm, shoulder, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fishing rod according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the fishing rod according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the fishing rod according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the fishing rod accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a variation on the fishing rodaccording to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the Figures, the present invention includes a fishing rod10, a butt grip 12, and reel fastening means 14. The fishing rod 10includes a tip end 101 and a butt end 102, with a longitudinal axis 103extending therebetween.

The reel fastening means 14 attaches a fishing reel (not shown) to areel contact surface 25 of the fishing rod 10. The reel contact surface25 is provided between the tip end 101 and the butt end 102, and mayalso be used to grasp and precisely manipulate the fishing rod.

The reel fastening means 14 includes a primary body 16 fitted on thefishing rod 10 and secured thereto, such as by an adhesive, a rearportion 18 between the primary body 16 and the butt end 102, and asecondary body 20 provided between the primary body 16 and the tip end101. A part of the primary body 16 closest to the tip end 101 has a malescrew 16A with which a female screw 20A of the secondary body 20 isengaged. The rear portion 18 may be secured to the fishing rod 10 by anadhesive. The part 16B of the primary body 16, which is closest to thebutt end 102, partially covers the part of the rear portion 18 which isclosest to the tip end 101 and opposite the reel contact surface 25.

The reel fastening means 14 has a first securing means or first (fixed)hood 28B formed as a recess in the primary body 16 and open toward thebutt end 102. A second securing means or second (movable) hood 28A isformed as a recess in the secondary body 20 and opens toward the tip end101. When the reel is to be fastened to the fishing rod contact surface25 by the fastening means 14, the secondary body 20 is moved away fromthe rear portion 18. First 24B and second 24A projections from a fishingreel mounting means 24 are received in the first and second securingmeans 28B and 28A, respectively, and the secondary body 20 is oppositelymoved toward the rear portion 18. Tightening the secondary body 20securely clamps the mounting means 24 against the fishing rod contactsurface 25 by virtue of the cooperation between the securing means28A,28B and the projections 24A,24B.

The primary body 16 has a bulge 17 (FIGS. 1-5) which extends radiallyoutward away from the longitudinal axis 103 to enhance stability whilegrasping the fastening means 14. The bulge 17 continuously decreases inheight (h′) from a first point 17A at the center of the bulge to asecond point 17B. The primary body 16 also has a constriction 22 betweenthe bulge and the tip end 101. The bulge 17 continuously decreases inheight (h′) from a first point 17A at the center of the bulge to asecond point 17B. The primary body further has an expansion portion 19leading to the second hood 28A. The transverse width with respect to thelongitudinal axis 103 of the primary body 16 is minimal at theconstriction 22. The transverse width of the constriction may be madegenerally equivalent to the outside diameter of the fishing rod 10,thereby providing a comfortable rest for the middle and/or indexfinger(s).

When the primary body 16 of the reel fastening means 14 is grasped inthe angler's hand, the index and middle fingers are proximate to thefront projection 24A, and the third and little fingers are proximate tothe rear projection 24B. The middle finger is generally received in theconstriction 22. Consequently, the fishing rod can be preciselymanipulated through the use of the finger received in the constriction22, while the bulge ensures a stable grasp may also be comfortablymaintained.

In the general axial proximity of the constriction 22, the primary body16 is radially spaced away from the fishing rod 10 so that the fishingrod 10 is exposed in an opening 26. This enables the angler's hand totouch the fishing rod 10 thereby enhancing sensitivity to a fish bitingthe bait, as well as reducing the weight of the fastening means 14.

To ensure the entire palm of the angler's hand is used to comfortablygrasp the fishing rod 10, the rear part 16B of the contours of theprimary body 16 may extend over and radially cover some of the rearportion 18. Since the contours of the primary body 16, rather than therear portion 18, are comfortably grasped by the entire palm, the anglergets a consistent feeling when grasping the fishing rod.

FIG. 5 shows the variation in which the corresponding rear part 36B ofthe primary body 36 does not extend over and radially cover some of therear portion 38. Instead the primary body 36 and rear portion 38 abutone another at a plane perpendicular with respect to the longitudinalaxis 103.

Although the fastening means 14 has been described with reference to theattached Figures, the present device is not limited thereby. Forexample, the fastening means 14 need not have a generally tubular shape,the fishing rod contact surface 25 may be flatly shaped, the fasteningmeans 14 may have additional bumps on the opposite side with respect tothe longitudinal axis 103, and/or the constriction 22 may have adifferent cross-section or size.

What is claimed is:
 1. Fastening means for affixing a fishing reel to anelongated fishing rod, said fishing reel having mounting means forengagement with said fastening means and said fishing rod having alongitudinal axis extending from a tip end to a butt end, said fasteningmeans comprising: a primary body including first hood for cooperatingwith said mounting means, said primary body further including a bulgeopposite said first hood with respect to said longitudinal axisextending radially outward away from said longitudinal axis, an expandedportion substantially circumscribing said fishing rod, and aconstriction of relatively reduced cross-section with respect to bothsaid bulge and said expanded portion, said constriction is locatedbetween said bulge and said expanded portion; and a secondary bodyincluding second hood for cooperating with said mounting means, saidprimary body and said second hood are relatively rotatable to engage anddisengage said mounting means from said first and second hoods, whereinsaid constriction is located closer to said second hood than said firsthood along said longitudinal axis.
 2. The fastening means according toclaim 1, wherein said bulge is diametrically opposed to said first hoodwith respect to said longitudinal axis.
 3. The fastening means accordingto claim 1, further comprising screw means for enabling said relativerotation between said primary body and said second hood.
 4. Thefastening means according to claim 1, wherein said constriction isradially spaced away from said fishing rod, and said bulge circumscribessaid fishing rod.
 5. The fastening means according to claim 1, whereinsaid constriction and said fishing rod have substantially the sametransverse width with respect to said longitudinal axis.
 6. Thefastening means according to claim 1, wherein said constriction has atransverse width with respect to said longitudinal axis which is lessthan that of said fishing rod.
 7. A reel seat for affixing a fishingreel to an elongated fishing rod having a longitudinal axis extendingfrom a tip end to a butt end, said reel seat comprising: a primary bodyincluding first hood for cooperating with said fishing reel, saidprimary body further including a bulge extending radially outward awayfrom said longitudinal axis in a direction opposite said first hood froma first end to a second end and a constriction of relatively reducedcross-section with respect to said bulge; and a secondary body includingsecond hood for cooperating with said fishing reel means, said primaryand secondary bodies are relatively movable to engage and disengage saidfishing reel from said first and second hoods, wherein said constrictionis disposed between said first and second ends and defines a smallestcircumference around said longitudinal axis along said primary body, andwherein said constriction is radially spaced from said fishing rod todefine an opening therebetween.
 8. The reel seat according to claim 7,wherein said constriction is located closer to said second hood thansaid first hood along said longitudinal axis.
 9. The reel seat accordingto claim 7, further comprising screw means for enabling said relativerotation between said primary body and said second hood.
 10. A reel seatfor affixing a fishing reel to an elongated fishing rod having alongitudinal axis extending from a tip end to a butt end, said reel seatcomprising: a primary body including first hood for cooperating withsaid fishing reel, said primary body further including a bulge extendingradially outward away from said longitudinal axis in a directionopposite said first hood from a first end to a second end and aconstriction of relatively reduced cross-section with respect to saidbulge; and a secondary body including second hood for cooperating withsaid fishing reel means, said primary and secondary bodies arerelatively movable to engage and disengage said fishing reel from saidfirst and second hoods, wherein said constriction is disposed betweensaid first and second ends and defines a smallest circumference aroundsaid longitudinal axis along said primary body, and wherein saidconstriction and said fishing rod have substantially the same transversewidth with respect to the longitudinal axis.
 11. A reel seat foraffixing a fishing reel to an elongated fishing rod having alongitudinal axis extending from a tip end to a butt end, said reel seatcomprising: a primary body including first hood for cooperating withsaid fishing reel, said primary body further including a bulge extendingradially outward away from said longitudinal axis in a directionopposite said first hood from a first end to a second end and aconstriction of relatively reduced cross-section with respect to saidbulge; and a secondary body including second hood for cooperating withsaid fishing reel means, said primary and secondary bodies arerelatively movable to engage and disengage said fishing reel from saidfirst and second hoods, wherein said constriction is disposed betweensaid first and second ends and defines a smallest circumference aroundsaid longitudinal axis along said primary body, and wherein saidconstriction has a transverse width with respect to said longitudinalaxis which is less than that of said fishing rod.
 12. A reel seatcomprising: a fixed hood for engaging one end of a foot of a spinningreel; a movable hood for engaging the other end of said foot; a seatbase extending between said fixed hood and said movable hood andsurrounding a rod core in regions of said fixed hood; a fastening meansfor adjusting a relative position of said movable hood with respect tosaid fixed hood along a longitudinal axis of said rod core; a bulgeformed in said seat base at a location that is opposite said fixed hoodwith respect to said longitudinal axis; and a constriction formed insaid seat base between said fixed hood and said movable hood, saidconstriction being closer to said movable hood than said fixed hoodalong said longitudinal axis, said constriction is longitudinallydisposed between said fixed hood and said movable hood and defines asmallest circumference around said longitudinal axis along said seatbase, wherein said constriction is radially spaced from said fishing rodto define an opening therebetween.